All four teams have reached this stage of the competition before, but only Leinster have appeared in each year's play-offs since their inception as the way of deciding the PRO12 champions.

Of the four contenders only Ulster have dropped lower than the top five throughout the season. Top seeds Leinster took over pole position after round 16 and have not relinquished it since.

Glasgow have won the most number of games throughout the regular season (18), while Ulster equal the record along with Connacht, for picking up the least disciplinary points and taking a share of the Specsavers Fairplay award.

The winners of the two semi-finals will go forward to contest the PRO12 final which is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 (kick-off 6.15pm).

Looking forward to facing England on Sunday, Ireland winger Tommy Bowe said: "We've trained very well this week, we're really excited about the game. It's about going out there and doing whatever we can to get ourselves that win."

Second row Devin Toner previews Ireland's crunch RBS 6 Nations clash with England, saying: "It's a pretty formidable English pack. Attwood and Kruis have played fantastically well. They're well drilled and focused and their scrum and lineout are very good."

Looking forward to facing England this weekend, Ireland back rower Sean O'Brien said: "It's obviously exciting, but it's one game at a time. I don't think there's any more pressure on us than in the first two games. That's the way you have to look at it."

Irish Rugby TV sat down with Ireland Under-20 scrum coach John Fogarty to talk about the U-20 Six Nations so far and Friday's clash with England at Donnybrook. Tickets are on sale on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Shane Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly preview the Ireland v England Legends match which takes place at Donnybrook this coming Saturday (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. All proceeds from the game will go to support the IRFU Charitable Trust and the RFU All Schools Charity.

Watch highlights from the Ireland team announcement press conference as Joe Schmidt reveals the team to play France. Peter O'Mahony says it is good to 'have some big figures back' for Saturday's clash.